Officer wanted to see soldier 'panting like a dog', inquest told

A soldier who died of heatstroke after being subjected to a "beasting" was ordered to be produced to an Army officer "panting like a dog", an inquest has heard.

Private Gavin Williams, 22, from Hengoed, South Wales, died after being put through the intense session of physical exercise to punish him for disobedience and a series of drunken incidents.

Pte Williams, of the Second Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment, collapsed at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, and died of heatstroke on Monday July 3 2006 - one of the hottest days of the year.

He was later admitted to hospital where his body temperature was 41.7C, way above the norm of 37C. Tests later showed he had ecstasy in his body when he died.

Three non-commissioned officers - Sergeant Russell Price, of 2 Rifles, and Sergeant Paul Blake and Corporal John Edwards, both from the Second Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment - who carried out the punishment were cleared of manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court in 2008.

Mr Edwards, who has since left the Army, said he received a phone call from battalion adjutant Captain Mark Davis on the morning of the day Pte Williams died.

"He wanted Gavin in his office and he wanted to speak to him," he told the inquest in Salisbury.

"He told me that he wanted him at his office panting like a dog."

The adjutant, now a Lieutenant Colonel, has denied using that phrase, insisting he said "hot and sweaty" instead.

When asked about the discrepancy, Mr Edwards replied: "I stand by my statement. I will stick with 'panting like a dog'.

"He wanted me to take him (Pte Williams) for a quick march and to make him out of breath so he could speak to him. He wanted, I think, to have him on the back foot."

Assistant coroner Alan Large asked: "Did you interpret what the adjutant was saying as, 'bring him to my room now?'."

Mr Edwards replied: "No."

The march lasted for 20 minutes by a parade square in view of many superiors, he added.

"I took him that way because of the heat and I didn't want to push him any further," Mr Edwards said.

"I could have taken him further. Either way, I would have had high rankers looking to see what I could have done.

"The pace varied, it was a quick pace. I had him turning round, I had him marching forward, going to a certain point and then around."

Pte Williams complained of feeling sick and was leaning over, retching and looking drained about five minutes into the march.

He stopped a number of times before the march finished and was then taken to the adjutant's office, where he was told to write letters of apology and his cap badge was taken away.

"I said to Gavin, 'that's it now, you're done'," Mr Edwards said. "I said that was it. He had to write letters of apology."

However, Pte Williams was then taken to the gym by Sgt Price and Sgt Blake for an administrative punishment.